The original intend of our Founders and Framers was to limit the privileges of corporations as to protect the rights of the people. Not only did these corporations have definite life-spans and limits to there abilities, but the businessman running them could be held accountable for the actions of their group. Today, corporations can be “above laws” in the sense that they are fined for wrong-doing. So long as this fine works into the cost-benefit calculations, the law will be violated – even if it means death and destruction.

The Boston Tea Party is thought of as the first step towards the Revolutionary War. This event was a group of citizens who banded together to fight a corporation – the East India Company – from destroying their local businesses. How could this corporation destroy these local business? The government enacted the Tea Act of 1773 to basically give the East India Company a unique tax cut and subside that lowered the price of their tea below current market value. Thus, they could sell it at a profit at lower prices than it costs others to produce it.

Does this sound familiar? Wal-Mart has been doing this dance for a long time. And local communities have risen up to stop Wal-Marts from entering (and destroying) their towns.

However, the United States of America does exactly this to other, smaller countries. There is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone, but people go hungry because American food traded on the market is subsidized by our government to be sold at prices lower than other countries can produce it.

We have been letting the very thing that our Founder’s stood up against become common place in America – wealthy, greedy, corporate-centered government. This government is “By the people, for the people” not by and for corporations or rich getting richer. If our government, the people we elect, do nothing to stop this power than it is our duty as Americans to stand up against our government – tear it down, if necessary – and to reestablish a government controlled by the governed!

The East India Company’s primary stock holder was the king – and these poor colonist rose up against the corporate arm of their government, risking life and limb (often loosing both) to stand for the inalienable rights of people everywhere.

I therefore challenge all in the United States to stand up against corporations, fight to have stricter limitations to their power and complete accountability. We owe it to our forefathers and we owe it to our grandchildren!